Latest Survey on Children’s In-Game Spending Reveals Increasing Parental Involvement

Brussels, 12 September 2024 - Video Games Europe is pleased to publish the fifth edition of the Ipsos survey on parental supervision and children’s spending on in-game content, across five major European consumer markets: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom.  

The key findings are: 

• ○ 95% of parents of children who buy in-game extras actively monitor their children’s spending.
• ○ 76% of the parents of children that play games say their children do not make in-game purchases (stable since 2020).
• ○ Amongst those spending, average spend has decreased by 21% since 2023, from €39 to €31.
• ○ In all ages 11-64, just 11% of video game players have spent real money on in-game currency within the game.

It is also notable that, amongst those aged 11-64, 89 % of video game players claim to have not spent real money on in-game currency while only 4% claim to have spent real money on loot boxes.  

Video Games Europe CEO Simon Little said: “Since 2018, Video Games Europe has provided trusted data on this topic to improve understanding of the trends. Children’s spending has not increased and we note greater parental involvement in their children’s gameplay.  It is hugely positive to see that the considerable industry investment, in terms of resources and commitment in supporting parents with tools and guidance, is paying off. The video games industry works tirelessly to encourage responsible gameplay and to equip parents with the knowledge and tools to guide their children and to help families come to agreements that work for them."

Any journalist interested in topics relevant to Video Games Europe is welcome to get in touch with us for information or individual briefings. 

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Since 1998, Video Games Europe has ensured that the voice of a responsible games ecosystem is heard and understood. Its mission is to support and celebrate the sector’s creative and economic potential and to ensure that players around the world enjoy the benefits of great video game playing experiences. Video Games Europe represents 19 European and international video game companies and 13 national trade associations across the continent.